Today: Guyana President to Join WWF CEO at Hill Briefing on Impact of Tropical Deforestation on Climate Change

WASHINGTON, DC, March 5, 2009 – His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, the President of Guyana, will join World Wildlife Fund CEO Carter Roberts and other dignitaries at a Capitol Hill briefing today on the role of tropical deforestation in climate change.

Tropical deforestation and forest degradation account for approximately 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions – that’s more than the combined emissions from every plane, train and automobile on the planet. Reducing and eventually halting deforestation is essential to slowing climate change.

WWF, which has a presence in more than 100 countries, including key nations that house the Amazon, Congo and Borneo rainforests, has recently implemented a multilateral “network initiative” on forest-based carbon. WWF’s Forest Carbon Initiative seeks to advance policies that will provide financial incentives for protecting tropical forests. It is also embarking upon a series of on-the-ground pilot projects focused on reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD).

As the Head of State of a key rainforest nation, President Jagdeo will provide his perspective on the impact of deforestation and how to implement effective REDD programs.

Also participating will be Congressman Jay Inslee (D-WA); Per Federik Ilsaas Pharo, Director of Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative, and Deputy Minister of the Environment; and Kevin Knobloch, President of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

What:Congressional briefing on tropical deforestation and climate changeWhen: TODAY, 3-4:30 p.m.Where:2456 Rayburn House Office BuildingWho: His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, President of GuyanaCongressman Jay InsleePer Federik Pharo, Director of International Climate and ForestInitiative, Deputy Minister of the Environment,Government of NorwayCarter Roberts, President and CEO, WWFKevin Knobloch, President, Union of Concerned Scientists